David Cameron led a growing revolt against the suspension on full pay of three council executives who failed in their duty to protect Baby P.

The leader of the Opposition expressed outrage that Sharon Shoesmith, the former head of children's services at Haringey council, is being paid £2,000 per week from the public purse despite a devastating report which highlighted her department's chaotic handling of child welfare cases.

Employment law experts say it is likely to take weeks before Haringey can complete a lengthy disciplinary procedure which would allow it to dismiss Mrs Shoesmith, who will be entitled to a gold-plated final salary pension and who may seek a pay-off.

The council suspended Mrs Shoesmith from her £100,000-a-year post after the Children's Secretary, Ed Balls, invoked rarely-used powers to order her removal following the publication of a damning report into the council's failure to protect Baby P.

Her deputy, Cecilia Hitchen, who earns around £80,000, and a senior manager, Clive Preece, who earns £40,000, have also been suspended on full pay, while three social workers, Maria Ward, Sylvia Henry and Gillie Christou have been moved to other jobs while their positions are reviewed.

Mr Cameron said: "If they failed then they failed, and they shouldn't be kept on full pay, they shouldn't be rewarded for that failure.

"It's good that some of the people have been named and been suspended but we still have a lot to do to get to the bottom of what really happened and to learn all the lessons."

Michael Gove, the shadow children's secretary, wrote to Haringey council demanding to know how long the suspended employees would remain on full pay. He also asked the local authority to make Ms Shoesmith's contract public so taxpayers could see how she was still employed.

He wrote: "Sharon Shoesmith has been judged unfit to continue in her role by an independent inquiry and the Secretary of State. Despite this, she still continues to draw a salary in excess of £100,000. Taxpayers will want to know why.

"What is being done to resolve this situation as speedily as possible?"

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of campaign group the TaxPayers' Alliance, also condemned the decision to suspend Mrs Shoesmith on full pay.

He said: "It's unacceptable that, despite the damning official report showing repeated and serious failings in the Baby P case, Sharon Shoesmith is still raking in taxpayers' money.

"It has already taken far too long to get any action on these horrendous failings.

"Mrs Shoesmith and her colleagues must not be kept lingering around on costly gardening leave - justice should be swift."